The European Union announced Tuesday that it is imposing anti-dumping levies on imports of Chinese solar panels, in a move that could trigger a trade war between two of the world’s largest economies.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the 27-nation bloc will impose a tariff of about 12 percent on the import of solar panels, cells and wafers from this week, increasing it to an average of 47 percent in August unless a settlement is reached with China in the next 60 days.

China, the world’s largest producer of solar panels, is accused by the EU of selling them below-cost — a tactic known as dumping — to corner the market. Its exports of solar panels to Europe totaled 21 billion euros ($27.5 billion) in 2011.

The cheap Chinese products are flooding the market and threaten to bring down EU manufacturers, De Gucht said in Brussels, Belgium.

According to EU calculations, a fair sale price for Chinese solar panels should be 88 percent higher than what they are being sold for.

“It has the potential to destroy an important industry in Europe if we don’t act today,” he added, noting that more than 20,000 jobs in Europe are at stake.

The EU is China’s second-biggest business partner after the U.S. Solar panel exports in 2011 stood for about 7 percent of China’s total exports to the EU.

The EU decision is another blow to the Chinese government’s efforts to promote one of its important export industries. Last year, the U.S. imposed anti-dumping duties of up to nearly 250 percent on Chinese solar panel imports after finding that China’s government was subsidizing companies that were flooding the U.S. market. Solar panel and cell imports to the U.S. in 2011 totaled $3.1 billion, the Commerce Department has said.

The EU Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, has decided not to slap a punitive 47 percent tariff on all solar panel imports straight away in an attempt to avoid an escalating trade war, where each side engages in tit-for-tat tariffs and boycotts. Instead it is looking for a negotiated solution: Beijing has 60 days to reach a settlement with the Commission.

“The ball is now in China’s court,” said De Gucht, adding that Chinese manufacturers would have to agree to increase their prices and accept a lower market share quota. Chinese solar panels’ share of the EU market has risen to 80 percent over recent years.

The trade row between the EU and China is the world’s biggest anti-dumping case by sales volume, according to EU officials.

The global solar panel market is suffering from significant overcapacity, which has led to falling prices throughout the industry and stiff competition that has forced several European manufacturers out of business.

One of China’s largest producers, Suntech, also filed for bankruptcy in March, while several other manufacturers there have reported heavy losses.